Randoms

I'm home the earliest I've ever been since I moved to NY and I don't know what to do with myself! I called Officer Anderson to see what he's up to. He's not working tonight so we're trying to figure out what to do. In the mean time, some random thoughts.

1. I really don't like Indian food. I think it's way too expensive for what is never pleasing to the eye. It always looks like slop to me. You eat with your eyes first. Also, the flavors are just too much. I bite into something soft and white and I'm hit with a vinegary oniony taste? Does not compute. It messes with my head too much.

2. There was a student in my class two years ago named Giovanni. His brother was Leonardo and his sisters were Giada and Franchesca. Italian much?!?!? I loved that child! and I do like the name Giada. It's so feminine and pretty.

3. I took myself to a sushi restaurant last night. They didn't have any fancy rolls but I thoroughly enjoyed my food. The simple rolls were so fresh and delicious. It made me think of the restaurants Drew and I used to frequent. One was Nakorn, simple and fresh sushi, a few fancy rolls. The other was Sushi Room, the fancy flashy rolls, also DELISH. *sigh* Drew and I used to go INNNN on some sushi. and every time he picked me up from the airport, there was always a brown paper bag with some rolls just for me.

4. So my mom is still in Ghana. My dad came home yesterday. Our Christmas will be Pops and his two daughters. I think we will migrate to Stessica's or maybe they'll come our way. Whatever the case, I have my brother's gift. I need 3 more. And of course the one w/o the job wants the most extravagant things!! Mini Me's list made me bust out laughing, real talk.

5. Every time I unwrap my hair, I think, "Wraps are so boring. Do I want to cut my hair again?" I think I will have a long hair end date, like Nima. She didn't cut her hair till after her wedding. I may wait till the 30th for either the hair cut or the last long hair hoorah. Stay tuned.

6. Tonight was our holiday party, both at school and as a network. Yeah, I celebrated with Brooklyn and passed on the City. I don't like those people. If I don't have to spend anytime with those people, I won't. I don't care if it's bowling or not (and I like bowling).

7. I have a green bubble, a green FAMU hoodie, a dark green FAMU sweatshirt, a green FAMU tee, and an olive green smocked one sleeve dress. I need more green clothes. Damn you, Pops.

8. I really like kiwi strawberry flavor. I can drink KS snappl all day and eat KS candy all night.

9. I can't wait to be back in the DMV for a little spell! I really love being there! I think the area is calling me back! The urge has to be great for me to leave NYC, I just got here!

10. What can't I wait to do when I get home?? Drive! Drive to Publix! Drive to the beach! IN THAT ORDER! Well, maybe I should drive to my waxing place. But that's in Jupiter... oh well! I'ma be a driving fool! ROAD TRIPS ON DECK!

Okay, i'm done with this mid-week post. TTYL!

Vanity

so this guy I used to talk to back in the FAMU days just asked to be my friend on FB. He's the one who after a while, I couldn't STAND b/c he loved being a light-skinned Alpha who happened to be Catholic. He was starting this up while we were talking and even used some places we'd frequent to promote on the site. I remember putting him on to chocolate martinis on V-Day then all the hoes started jumping on my drink cause they read about it on DGL... *eyeroll* he didn't even give me credit. He was a certified asshole once his lil webpage started to jump-off.

it's changed. well, it has been 5+ years, lol

Anyway, I confirmed request and started looking thru his pics. Yo, he has NOT aged well. Like, he looks OLLLLLLD. Receding hairline, crows feet, poppa belly, et al. Meanwhile, I'm here getting better with age (lmao).

I just wonder if he's looking thru my pictures and saying, "Damn, I messed that up." or "Wow, she looks really good! She's always been cute but now she's simply gorgeous!" or whatever else guys say when they realize the err of their ways, HA!

I'm a mess right now.

Next note, I think I have a really nice clavicle.

Totally random, I know.

But for real, in the pictures that people like of me, I noticed my clavicle frames my head/face quite nicely. I think it's one of those unconscious things about beauty. You know why someone or something is pleasing to the eye, but you can't put your finger on it.

Lastly, I really and truly believe with all my heart, all my girls look amazing. I don't think there's a weak link in my crew. There is no "ugly friend" in my group. Whatever your type, she's here with personality to boot.

So that's my Saturday feel good rant. I'm wearing my sweatpants, went to the salon and now i'm thinking about sushi :-) Life is good (on the weekend).

Day 6- Your Day

I don't know what that means.

Like, my day today? or what I considered to be My Day (graduation day so far)? I'm confused. and i'm sure it's not that hard but i just want to know what 'your day' means.

I'm not in a good mood so I don't care to talk about either day. school in PBC starts next tuesday. teachers report to school tomorrow. not.happy. and not a peep from ANY of the 15 principals i contacted in DC. Wait, i got those 4 O.O.O. replies on friday, july 30.

so besides no contact, i spoke with a fellow COE classmate and she tipped me off to something i have to get taken care of but DC failed to mention to me. i'm trying not to get pissed cause i'm sure this is a lesson in patience. Did I ask the Lord for patience? I don't remember. but i do know He doesn't give you what you want, just what you need.

You know what else I'm upset about? I'm upset I am home. I.DON'T.WANT.TO.BE.BACK.ON.A.TWIN.BED.

I.AM.TOO.OLD.FOR.THIS.SHIT.

I.DON'T.MIND.VISITING.I.DON'T.WANT.TO.LIVE.HERE.

and I'll be so pissed if DC takes the 12 weeks it said to process my shit.

and I have to send paperwork to FAMU.

and I don't have that paper i took up there in June.

and moving has my mail all over the place, who knows where that form is.

i'm not happy right now.

on a nother note, my school got a A. i'm sure the principal is patting herself on the back. won't be able to tell her shit. too bad we didn't make ayp. oh well, esol students don't need to learn anyway. who cares about that subgroup.

30's the New 20?

Why something always got be the new-new? Can't we just appreciate where we are? Maybe even take it back? Why come Jay Zee turned 40 so now it's the new 30? Is 30 where it's at? And when Drew turned 30 the other day, why did a 34 y.o we dined with say, "It's the new 20!"?

Did I miss a memo?

Was 20 the hauteness?

Now don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to re-live my college days, all 2,555 of them. (Well, not alllll of them.) But when Niko (RJ's new boo) made the aforementioned statement, I was INSTANTLY taken back to 2002.

*

Okay, I turned 20 in May of 2002 so sophomore year was clearly over. I just gotten word I'd be attending FAMU with my brother who just graduated from Suncoast High. In May of 2002, I got my 2nd tattoo, a star on where I guess would be an ovary. Summer 2002, my family and I drove to Hampton to get my things out of storage. I left a note for Martina and BB on a trunk. I really think we drove back to Florida without a word coming out of my mouth.

Summer 2002, the guy I was dealing with starts to show his ass. We go back and forth via snail mail. (LMMFAO) I don't even remember what was said but I come thisclose to telling him, "That's why you weren't my first like I said you were." But I knew I wouldn't be coming back to HU and I didn't want him talking iSht about me while I wasn't there. He stamps, affirms, and confirms my decision to not make my first person anyone special. I could only imagine how I would've felt if he WAS my first. Someone would've had had to die. And it wasn't going to be me.

Fall 2002, first semester at FAMU... interesting. "Does anyone have class here?" Not taking a class but social class.

One thing I did notice was how openly Greek stuff was here. EVERYTHING was claimed with two colors and two years. I thought that was cool.

I shared a townhouse with two chicks I've known forever but mostly from Suncoast. We had lots of fun. Some trying times of course but more fun like making up dance routines and watching the Best man EVERYDAY. We were also walking distance to campus. I dated a guy who was the equivalent of a Student Leader at Hampton. We went to football games together with Kim and her BF (now husband). Dee marched in the 100.

I went to an Oil Spill with Kitty and fell on the ground a lot. I wasn't drunk, there was just hella liq on the floor. Not cool. I NEVER want to fall at parties and look like "that chick". Kitty got bit in the ass. We got barked at and guerilla-style dry humped. My car got broken into and all my CDs were gone. DEVASTATED. I then decided "I don't like Ques." They weren't like the ones at Hampton. FAMU Ques were beyond nasty and uncouth. and the ones from Florida State were extra hype. I assumed they had to prove themselves cause they're crossed at a PWI. Oh Lord, there's a white one too. He wins the title for Too Hype.

Parties at FAM are called Cosmos, short for Cosmopolitans. No one knew what I was talking about when I said I wanted to go to Cabs, short for Cabarets. Oh well, they were fun either way.

Football games are BEYOND a blast at my new school. OMG, the band is the greatest. and I know a lot of people in the band so I make special requests. It's so cool to know so many people from home. I feel like I can be myself. But in classes where I don't know anyone, I'm seen as the bourgie chick. I think it's cause I intro myself as a transfer from Hampton university. well, that's what I was! I'm torn. I hated the pretentiousness of HU, the "keeping up appearances" the full out accepting of being bourgie. You don't have to be stuck up/stank to have class. People were full of themselves at HU. But then I get to FAM and the ghettoness has me shaking my head at every turn. Where am I? Where do I belong? I didn't make any new friends.

Christmas comes, EVERYONE is home. I love not having to catch US Air to come home. I HATED that airline. My hair is long again.

Spring 2003

I'm still 20. The Student Leader I was dating ships out on Valentine's Day. He's in the reserves. I meet the whole family when we go to St. Pete the week before. Cool, his mom ADORES me.

Classes happen, I have a 3.8 gpa, I'm an education major and I love it. I visit my beloved Hampton for CC's bday in February. OMG, I MISS ALLL MY HOMIES! IT'S SO COOL TO BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK YOU'RE BOURGIE, BUT NORMAL!!

Basketball games are okay... they're in the gym so I feel a bit claustrophobic. HU played in the convocation center which hosted concerts and other big events. Am I really sitting on wooden bleachers like I'm in highschool? Oh well, the Pep Band is great so I have fun.

It's spring time so probates are happening left and right. Virgil crossed Kappa. Everyone is at his probate but I'm on the phone with SL's WIFEY. Yes, the guy I was dating has a main chick. I call Deanne and she can't understand a word I'm saying cause I'm wailing on the phone. She was also at Virgil's probate. She thought I was dying of pain or something. My heart was breaking as if it was made of poorly made glass. It's a bad time for me. I cut my hair for the 2nd time in my life. I look like a Supreme and I love it.

The end of March brings a wonderful party to my life. The Illustrious Champagne Sip. Kitty and I attend our first one Spring 2003. THEE best party EVER. EVAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR! We get dressed up in ball gowns and drink champagne all night? So there. We had no idea how loose it would get. But loose in a good way, not in a Champagne Sip 2004 way. *whew!*

April comes and goes. Exams and graduation come and go. School's out, "summer" is here. SL is still calling me, trying to make things work. I answer the calls as part of my American duty to boost the morale of our military but the feeling is gone. I'm like a hollow heart when it comes to love at this time. One day he calls while I'm at Kitty's and I start fake crying to make him feel bad. I remember why I was dubbed Ms. Drama freshman year at Hampton. He starts crying. But I don't think he's faking. I end with, "Don't call me anymore! Call Shay! *click*" Then, a guy in her section (french horn) who I had been eyeing on stops by and I get him. My motto for the year? "Fcuk the World, literally."*

So that was 20 for me. If 30 is going to be the 2.0 version of that, I'll pass.

*so even though Kitty and I said we were going to fcuk the world, we didn't. *LMAO* I didn't crush on anyone again till the end of Spring 2004.

Estoy Aqui

I'm in Tally getting transcripts so I can get on with my life, OMG, why is my alma mater charging me $10 for one?!?!?!?!?!?!?! i just can't believe that!!! What happened to $5?!??! MAAAAAAAYBE $8?? TEN dollars is just plain rude and very inconsiderate. I know we in a reccession, but damn.

I took Tima to the shelter. I couldn't take her anymore. In my old age, i've become neater and neater. She was simply too messy for me. I like to come home to a clean place and clean it even more WHEN I WANT TO. She was making me do too much. And summer is here, she would've put salt in my travelling game. I felt horrendous but i knew it was for the best for both of us. Someone is going to get an energetic puppy and I get to go wherever I want for as long as I want.

I decided I want to have a drink every day of summer vacay and possibly get drunk. It sounds like fun, especially since I didn't use my college days wisely in that respect. 10am sounds like a fun time to start sippin on asti, what do you think?

Speaking of drinking, i've CORRECTLY calcuated the number of times I was throw-up drunk: 4. i forgot SUM '04 when I was road tripping all over Florida. Oh yes, the house party in Orlando had me feeling like i was in a wave pool. and I got sea-sick in the bushes.

I found an e-mail I sent Jameil last year and I'm strangely on track with what I planned for my life. I'll explain 'strangely' later.

I HAVE to do a lot of moving and shaking this summer. I need a trip to ATL, DFW, DC, NC, BAL, NYC, LAS before August 15, 2010. And if I can use my passport between now and back to school, I will consider my 30 before 30 accomplished. I know, that's only 1 before 30 but I don't have lofty goals in the summer, sue me.

Jameil has pointed out that ONLY when I'm with my friend Kitty, does utter foolishness occur. SO TRUE. You have no idea how many emails I've sent Jam from my phone abt what me and Kit have gotten into. Harmless fun like hopping stone walls to hunt mangoes to "are we gonna going to jail?" popping up in my mind whilst we were driving thru GA. I can't imagine how our lives would've been if we were white girls at a PWI.

Oh, a 30 before 30 just popped into my mind, I may have shared it with you already: catch a Dallas game IN Dallas. I think I want to pop my NFL experience cherry with a Cowboys game... yeah, that'll be an AWESOME first time. Then I can have an orgasm in the store... again. Y'all have no idea how buck wild I went in there in Feb... it was like eating the best sushi in the most fabulous hotel room and then jet-setting to Fashion Week in Paris and having an afterparty on a yacht.

*I JUST SHARED MY DEEPEST FANASTY WITH Y'ALL*

Anyway, I'm bout to go to campus and print some papers. I'll holllllllla!

En Route

I'm packing for D.C. this morning. So excited! I love packing!! It means I'm leaving W.P.B for some place that's most likely more FAB! And D.C is DEF more fab than WPB!

*

I pack very methodically. I picture what my trip should be like and pack accordingly.

I try and make my wardrobe as cohesive as possible so I can bring as few accessories as possible. I lay out outfits down to the underwear based on a tentative schedule and I don't budge.

Tuesday: plane ride, hanging out with fam, mall (for my gift that Andrew says we're going to pick up... [FACE])- camel bcbg hoodie and pants, longsleeve green tee, socks, pink scarf and chucks

Wednesday: public transport, museum circuit, lunch/dinner on the town- bright green cable knit turtle neck sweater, dark jeans, thermals, flat brown boots

Thursday: hanging with Martina and beating her in Mario Cart and any other games, catching up with other Hampton Homies- jeans, long sleeve pink tee, cream cable knit zip-up sweater, pink scarf and chucks

Thursnight: NYE house party/parties- dark, dark cigarette jeans, long sleeve black wrap shirt, colored pumps OR brown camel cashmere sweater dress with flat brown boots and possibly some colored fishnet/tights

Friday: recoup day, I have no idea- GRAY SWEATSUIT!! and if we decide to go out, red cashmere sweater, dark jeans, flat brown boots

Saturday: heading back to WPB, I will most likely have more clothes/shoes/stuff than I came with (which is why I pack "lightly") so the day will be spent packing and chilling- jeans, long sleeve black tee, pumps or pink chucks and scarf.

Yep, that's it!! Now I know we have plans to find some cool restaurants to eat at and we might even take a trip to B-More cause there are some SHS/FAM classmates living there now... SO EXCITED!

One more thing to be excited about:

IT MIGHT SNOW!!!!!

Friend

Sometimes, I feel like I'm not a good one. and it all stems from my phone use. Or lack thereof.

*

I have two groups of friends. Pre College and During College.

Pre College are the people from home. We met at church, in elementary school or summer camp. WPB being a little big city, I didn't make anymore friends after el. school cause I pretty much saw those same people in middle and high school. If wasn't your friend at ICY or Roosevelt Elem, I'm most likely not your friend now. These are the friends for LIFE who will show up at a moment's notice for whatever is going on in your life, good or bad.

During College are the Hampton Homies. With the exception of Jameil, we all lived in the same freshman dorm, Kennedy Hall. These are the girls I will and have hopped on a plane to celebrate a birthday on the weekend for. Or freeze my butt off for in whatever N.E. city for. These are the girls I've road-tripped for. These are the chicks you hear about meeting in college that will be your friends for life. The girls you lived without for 18 years but can't imagine doing that again.

Now you'll notice I don't have friends from FAM. Yeah, WPB sends a lot of its Black students to Tally. A few might go out of state but for the most part, my pre-college friends were already there getting the place ready for me.

*

My friend Kitty has been calling me all week. Between school, work, safety patrol sponsoring, pops leaving, mom going away, LIFE... I've been missing her calls. I had EVERY intention of calling her back, but me being me always forgot. Then she'd call me again and I wasn't able to answer cause I was teaching or in a meeting or on the phone with mom trying to buy her a plane ticket (she's going to Boston for my godfather's funeral and hanging out till whenever). I'd make plans to call during Planning Period but get caught up in an spur of the moment conference. Okay, I'll call on the way home from school but the day would have me just wanting to get home and not think about anything.

I found out her grandmother passed away Thursday night. How did I find out? On FB.

Oh my heart broke.

Even though she didn't leave any messages, I can only assume she's been calling me to talk about her grandmother being in the hospital this past week.

Way to be there, Stace.

*

I have another friend who I PROMISE you, I haven't spoken to since I was flying out of Jaxson, MS this summer. I know that cause she called me on our way to the airport and I didn't want to be rude by having a conversation in the car. Yep, July. Nearly 4 months to the DAY, I called to wish her a Happy Birthday and the conversation flowed like we talk EVERYDAY. *sigh* I was actually very nervous about calling her cause I know I've been missing her calls and always putting off calling her back (as usual) but for us to laugh the way we did, I know everything is alright.

This post goes out to my FRIENDS. They are the people who know who you are and love you anyway.

Eww, that was such a corny cliche I feel like I got from a forward my mom sent me... (I actually read them)

Thank-you guys for putting up with me. I know we don't talk everyday and I'm glad you aren't mad at me for that :-) I love you!

(Dani, Kitty & Keesha, Martina & Jameil; my Fab 5)

one big fluck

I was just thinking about college. I spent 7 years there. 2 at Hampton doing something I didn't really want to do and 5 at FAM fulfilling (most of) my dreams. In those 7 years, I did somethings I just can't believe I did.

- I used to... light incense. 28B with the Hip Hop Hippies was my spot. Tribe and some fire and I was good. Shaking my head now cause I hate... incense!

*

What really triggered this post was Spring 2003. That was the spring semester of the year I transferred. That was also the 1st time I went to the Champagne Sip. Wait, I need to digress.

What really, REALLY prompted this post was Bacefook. I was thinking to myself, "Dang, have I really been on that thing for 5 years? Since 2004? That seems like a very long time... but it seems right" Then, I thought, "Wow, I'm glad it wasn't around spring 2003. Who knows what that Champagne Sip album would've looked like!"

Man, Spring 2003, I was'nt even 21 yet. I just broke up with a guy who was going to Iraq. Found out his ex really wasn't an ex but more like the wife who knows her husband cheats but is okay with it cause it's her name on the bank account? Yeah, that dumb hoe. "The gas in his car? I bought it." I hate that song, 'Woman to Woman'

anyhoo, not 21 yet.

Kitty and I are invited to an APhi*Que party. It's a dress-up affair so we go and buy ball gowns at our local Ross. I think I even had black opera length gloves... yeah, sit down dinner then dance the night away after sipping on champagne type deal. Oh, did we sip. Sip, slipped, and fell. All over the dance floor. Having the time of our 20 y.o lives. We took someone's shades and had a photo shoot in the middle of the dance floor, we possied up some chicks and guerilla dance attacked dudes (remember when a group of guys would surround you and pelvic thrust you to death? The tables were turned that night! SO MUCH FUN!), we did who knows what else cause honestly, I don't remember the rest. And if it was 6 years ago, I still wouldn't be able to remember. It was that kind of night. But let me tell you how to this day, there are some A*PhiQs who have and will come up to me and say, "Where's your homie? Y'all were the ones with the shades on, right?" Me or Kitty would deny it vehemently cause we wouldn't want him connecting anymore dots. We'd die if he said, "Yeah! That was y'all! and one of you was left with my Frat! Oh yeah!!!!"

See, no.

Spring 2004 had the Eyes Wyde Shut Sip. Now THAT one was LOOSE! LOOSE! Like, Kitty and some others have told me I was sitting on some dude's lap kissing him like there was no tomorrow! AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! WTF STACE!?!?!??! and then let's not talk about how I woke up with one shoe, one earring, and a tux jacket on. "Whose is this?!!?" I was in my own bed, but still! Thankfully, FB was around but no-one had digital cameras like that yet. If you wanted pics up, you had to develop and scan them! (LOL). USB cords weren't readily available for the instant upload and twtpic was barely a twinkle in someone's eye. *whew!*

Also in 2004, I entered a pageant. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have done it cause I think it messed up my chances to join the sorority I want to do. Me in my eternal naivete didn't know all the politics that go into greek pageants. Oh well, I met, dated and hated a frat boy that Spring. *sigh* I remember going to house parties with him, disappearing and reappearing. Word? You just gon use someone's room like that? LOOSE!

"That" lasted for way too long (as recent as 2006 and messages since day 1). He was born on National Asshole Day (April 10) so we constantly bumped heads. why did I put so much time and effort into him!?? To make myself feel better about that time "with" him, I exacted my revenge for all he did... those of you who have been around know what I used to do...

Spring 2005. Champagne Sip is a bit more ritzy than the year before but that's where I met the musician. UGH. Can we not talk about him? I just know I dealt with some crazy, crazy mess. And did crazy things. *shaking my head*. Yo, I used to ride motorcycles. MOTORCYCLES!! WITH NO HELMET, NO JACKET! Just chilling on the back, leaning when he leaned. Now that right there is TRUST. One false move and you're road kill or at least VERY scarred for life. Can't believe I literally put my LIFE in that sociopath's hands.

I kinda remember a night in Texas. I was drunk and we rode back to the apt. Imagine me being passed out drunk on the back of a bike riding down I-35 going 90 miles an hour. All I remember was getting on the bike on 6th Street and getting in the bed in Round R.ock

What.thee.fluck.

That's another one that had me doing some crazy mess. Both me and Kitty had our share of, "could've landed us in jail" mess. I remember us going to wahlmart to get black sweatsuits and socks.

I'ma leave it at that.

*

Now in between Champagne Sips and "serious" relationships, there were flings. THAT'S what makes me really think about how crazy college is! OMG, it was nothing to hop in the car and drive wherever at whatever time to see whomever! I had a guy fly from Atlanta and another drive from ATL. Not really much of a casual dater, I shake my head at the casual "dates" I had!! OMG!!!! And I was on the waaaaaaaay tame side of things!!!! I'm sitting here thinking about the chicks who are flat out HOES! flat out OFF THE CHAIN!! How can you get down like that and walk the campus the next day? have you know shame!? Hearing stories of how the band gets down home and away? how frats get down with dumb chicks who want to be down with the sister sorority?? (that much I KNEW not to get into)... how people are just nasty like that, it makes me wonder,

Was college just one big orgy?

Why does it change once you cross the stage after shaking your dean's hand?

If I was single, would I really be able to get down the way I used to?

I barely drink anymore!! The last time I would say I "drank" was the ATL Classic. Two drinks. A Pineapple Vodka and an apple martini. Word? I used to be flat out WASTED. I went to one Oil Spill (can't take too much of the Bruhs, esp when liquor is involved), some blue juice jams, and we already know about the Sips. Then there are the 2-for-1 at your fave restaurant or someone's house party, or shit, the house parties Kitty and I used to throw! Between the drinks and the guys, all I can do is shake my head.

College was one big PARTY PARTY PARTY where we all got WASTED. GUCCI!!

30 Before 30

This is interesting. 

Not since high school have I really set a goal*.  I mean, I'm all for a vision board, but to actually visualize my goals and put them on paper...? this is hard!  I'm more of a 'go with the flow' type and end up where I figure I'm supposed to be, nah mean?

I'm not sure if I can come up with 30 things.  Or maybe I can, but I think they are superfluous and not really worth mentioning...  or, I do have goals but don't see why I have to reach them by 30.  Spread 'em out! Make life interesting! 

How bout this: I make a list of goals.  and if I want to do it within the next 2.6 years, I'll bold it.

get married

have twins

travel to Japan (preferably Ky.oto)

get another tat

live in another state for a year

earn my Masters in something education related (looking at reading ed and bilingual ed)

earn my Bachelors in Art History

earn my Bachelors in Photography

drive across the country (I-10 West, jet-set back)

drive back across the country (I-95 North, I-90 West, I- something east, I-95 South)

buy myself a SERIOUS piece of jewelry

stay in a hostel overseas (for example, I want to ball on a budget in Italy)

go to Brazil

go to Chile with my favorite aunt and cousin

go back to Ghana as a tourist and not a dual citizen

go back to London as an adult

have an all girls trip with my homies (even if it just NYC)

pseudo ball till I fall in Vegas (I'm not a gambler so I'll spend money on shows, a luxurious suite, and food)

eat at a Michelin rated restaurant

to have 5 figs in my bank account on a VERY consistent basis

I think that's about it.

* my only TRUE goal in LIFE was to get the prom dress of my dreams. I saw it in a Seventein mag my freshman year; cut it out and had it on my wall.  I wanted a green/gold A-line cami dress with a beaded bodice. the dress I got was the blue/purple version. I had it in the house for TWO YEARS! Mommy kept it in her closet so I wouldn't try it on every chance I got and get tired of it by the time my prom came around!! LOLOLOL! 

 

I still have that dress. I still love it.  I even wore it in the pageant I was in in 2004.  

Damn, I still have my senior prom dress too!  Best believe I wore that thing to Freshman Ball at HU AND APhiQ's Champagne Sips in 2004 and 2006!!! (I cut it to make it knee length for the latter event. re-use and recycle, people!!)

Damn. you have no idea how hard it is to find a nikki livas formal dress from 1997

A Monster

VS Pink has created one!

Where was this line when WE were in school?!!? 

I'm already about school spirit (not in a 'paint my face' kind of way but more like 'I like to rock the school colors' and 'I'm a fan of School Tee Friday')...!!  all I need to do spend my money on my schools!

and as you know, my heart is split in two :-(

The place where I got my foundation and made friends for life 

and

the place where I was more like myself and deepened the friendships I already had

MORE PINK FOR ME!!!

and don't let me and Drew go to Aventura and get some Hurricane gear... I'll wear it if it's cute!

Random Ramblings

1. for real, what happened to blogging? i miss being so involved in your lives!

2. i don't like 'ego' that much. i especially dislike it in the club. i feel like ever since i saw the video, i was pissed abt it.

3. i want a wii. all the people living the fab life i should be living in/around D.C have one. i know "thou shalt nit covet" but dang!

4. i've been ring shopping with DFB. believe it or not, I don't want a ginormous ring/stone. he doesn't believe me.

5. i text my mom this weekend and she was talking abt pushing her trip back to the middle/end of oct. i'm not even going to say anything else on it.

6. i'm not talking to my sister for a long time.

7. my brother's diploma is here and i looked at it for a long time. doctor of pharmacy. soooooooooo proud of him! it makes me love FAMU over and over again :-)

8. when will our HBCUs get their lives together?

9. i am ready for my 'long hair, don't care' to make a comeback. at least the chin length bob or something.

10. living single party has been postponed. unless y'all just to come over w/o the fanfare i like to have going on...

11. i want 2 more tatts and both of them on the inside of my wrists. they will be constant reminders of why i'm here.

12. being at BB's wedding made me want a wedding but I got over that. the feeling for the "next step" comes and goes; waxes and wanes. maybe i just want a large party in a ballroom with a really pretty dress on

13. the district has printed out our lesson plans. i have never been more confused in my life.

14. boom b.oom pow can stop now. so can every girl. and anything by drayck. i am tired of him.

15. i really need to make more effort to go to the beach. it's really just right there and it always turns out to be awesome. even if your hair gets wet against your prayers, wishes, and pleas.

16. drew likes to hot curl my hair. i don't so it works out. now i need to teach him how to use rollers and end paper.

17. i still fux with the clipse. they.are.GREAT. and have been since fall 2000. LOVE.

18. I am neater and cleaner in solitude than i have EVER been sharing living quarters. i love it. now if only the car can get the same attention. the tima is straight up FILTHY (on the outside) and not too neat on the inside

19. i have to tell myself, "it's not abt finding the person you can live with, but the person you can't live without". PREACH.

20. you guys know I saw a clip of a cow trying to get away from dying a couple of years ago. and then a few weeks ago, I read a clip about horses being slaughtered for their meat. It was then I decided to be a vegetarian. Someone asked if I was and I said, "most of the time. 98% of the time." we'll go with 95% of the time. Its been explained to be that i cannot afford to cut ANYTHING out of my diet. so, when that time comes for me to eat red meat (see: large loss of iron), I will. If there was another way to get the mineral (besides a vitamin) I'll be all over it. Till then, bring on the Stamps quarter pounder every 30 days.

Why I Love Saturday

good things happen on the day of my birth :-)

(The pics are in reverse order.)

Mike and his brother, stuntin in red and black

Flat shoes need to stay home after 7pm.

So the WHOLE crew missed the memo? Really white shorts?! You look like you're going shopping on So.Be!! And yellow, where are you going with that GINORMOUS satchel!? I see it's Gu.cci but still...

Me and the host. I wish the person taking the picture got a body shot so you could see my shoes. They were RED HAUTE!

The missed memo crew plus their GROWN homie with her thigh out!

The yellow really killed me. At least the Harvey Legger and turquoise dresses were evening appropro. and look at Kenny looking like Knee-Yo!!

The woman dancing with my brother shot me a look when I wanted to take a picture of just him. so I let her keep dancing with him.

Rooftop pics. The white is blinding.

Rev. "Till Def do us Part" Easley in the pink and black. I don't think men of the cloth had pinstripe cloth in mind.

FAMU Alums about to jump the broom.

Now for some reason, this white tux wedding was MUCH better than the one I went to in April. I guess M. Stewart Weddings (magazine) was right, people remember the reception and entertainment more than the actual wedding. This reception was done well. No caterers were walking around with raggedy t-shirts, handing out bottles of water; I didn't have to throw my own plate away, CHEFS and their staff were on hand for every whim (more champagne, please!), there was an actual cocktail hour followed by a sit down dinner... yeah. I wanted to ride but it was nice. My only qualm was the fake bouquets and bouts. But guess what? That was one cost they didn't have to worry about. And at the end of the day, they are married! Isn't that the goal? This wedding made me think about a lot of things I want and if they are really necessary.

I have to update you all on something.

You know how I just KNEW I was getting out of here; moving back to tally with my homie Kitty and attending grad school??  yeah, well the assistant dean called me on my cell phone and let me know that there will not be a fall 2009 class.  Why?  

Only TWO people applied!!!  ONLY 2 PEOPLE APPLIED to get a Master's in Elem Ed!!!  

*sigh*

The dept needs at least 10 students so it's not even close.

I canNOT spend another year here.

*

Aside from that info, I was actually more hurt at telling Kitty I won't be back.  But, I do know EVERYTHING happens for a reason so I am actually, taking it well.  I see it as I am not meant to be in Tally this fall.  Dean Newell said she'll hold onto my app and put me down for Spring 2010 in hopes that more people will apply.  We shall see.

In the mean time, I told Drew I think we're getting too comfortable.  he felt the need to let me know that he feels taken for granted and I let him know, "well, we've been doing the EXACT same thing for over 2 years so I don't know what you want me to say.  You're right, I do think, 'Drew will be there'...*shoulder shrug*  what do want to do about it?  We can't do this forever"

He wants me to move down there this summer.  I asked if Broward county schools is hiring.  They aren't.  I guess I won't be in the 'wood then, now will I?

What's next in my life?  We can't do the same thing 2 years in a row!?  Come on change!!

I need a break

I should've taken a break from my break. Can we talk about tired!? that's what I am! I literally did a tour of florida. Well, minus the west coast but honestly, not really the biggest fan of west-side "beaches". When you live on the east coast, why would you drive to swim in gulf water? No thanks, I like my ocean to be Atlantic sized.

So, I left here for the 'ville and hung out with Jam Rock. We ate WELL and made cool things for our siblings. We were supposed to go to Tally but Kitty got back to me too late and Jam already re-arranged her week. I got there a day later than planned, handed in my app and hung around longer than planned. I wanted to be back in SoFla by Thursday so I can defrost for a day before heading further south. Yeah no. I left Saturday, stopped by the crib for a change of clothes and kept it moving to Hollywood. We had fantabulous sushi and I crashed. Being on the road for 6+ hours will do that. At least I didn't get lost this time.

Sunday, 8am service that was much longer than planned cause of the Passion reading. Yeah, I don't really like yelling, "Crucify him!" cause that's not what I would've said if I was around back then, you know?

Got my church in, picked up my pictures and some dental floss cause my teeth/gums have been hurting. Have you ever flossed with braces? Do you know how time consuming that is?! OMG, I spent half car ride to Big Pine Key flossing my teeth!? They did feel much better though :-)

So if you tweet, you'd know I was at a reggae fest yesterday. It was so cool! Lots of hippies of course but they are a loving, peaceful people. I saw old men with sun bleached blond hair down their back vibing. Chicks with tiny locs and Loving Day babies all over. So cool! In my haste to get further south, I didn't pack a bathing suit. Oh well, I got in to my knees then splashed water all over myself and let it sun dry. I don't think I got the tan black I was yearning for... I think its so cool when you can tell someone had a serious vacation by their tans. A couple of my kids came back ruddy faced and bronze. So cute!

I decided I was going to be "mean teacher" while Drew and I were coming back to Hollywood. The kids didn't even let me be her, they were so good! I even gave them a star *tear*. 10 stars and they get a themed party. If the prin gives them a compliment, that's 3 stars. AP, 2. An adult, 1. Or, if everyone stays on green all day. Yeah, my class was so focused today, I was impressed and gave them a star myself!

So excited this is a 4-day work week! Thinking about doing Maundy Thursday vigil and I'm def doing Good Friday's Stations of the Cross even though it usually makes me cry... Holy Saturday and EASTER SUNDAY!! YAAAAY!


Wait. I don't have a dress.


T o be continued...

New Post!

i had to do one cause that sushi was KILLING me!! now i know why desy and vdizz wanted to lick the computer screen! i want to take a bite out of that blood red tuna...


too much?


so i'm here in tally and as you read from my tweets, i applied to grad school. you know how i can be impulsive; just one day decide to take the GRE with 6 days before the test, drastically cut all my hair off, things like that.

so anyway, the deadline was wednesday, april 1 and i was here wednesday, april 1st with letters, applications, and personal statements in hand. hand delivered to the associate dean of education/former professor who was too excited that i was coming back. ummm, just let me know i got in and i'll be excited with you, thanks.

i'm sure i got in... my fave prof and most respected teacher in the GEC (gore education complex) wrote a letter of rec for me. her letter alone is grounds for getting in!

yeah, i can't believe i did that. grad school is in my future. no more talking about it, i gotta be about it!

i told dreezy what i did and he said, "cool!" not sure that was the reaction i wanted. we women are so funny. i didn't want him to be excited! cause upon admission, i'd have to move to tally! and by moving to tally, i'd obviously be leaving him!! GOSH, Drew!! you should be tormented that i might leave your side!!! Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

anyway, we'll see what happens come summertime. oooh, i guess i should let my principal know...

okay, i'm up! its time to hit the road! but, i promised the baby sis we'd go out for breakfast. naturally, even though she kept me up till 2, i'm up and she's knocked out. i tried waking her at 732am. very cognizant and coherent in her sleep, she said, "you want me to wake up now? at 730 in the morning??" then she scoffed and faced the wall.


and this is where i'd call her a toothless b!tc# (thanks dani!)

Motivation

Look at my most recent posts... how bi-polar am I??

*

So, my dad was watching t.v. as I limped across the t.v. room to the couch. For whatever reason, my hip was paining me and it hurt to put weight on it. Pops noticed and told me to stand up in front of him. He turned off the t.v. and told me about myself.

"You are 26 years old and your hips hurt. You don't do anything for that to be happening; you have no kids and your job isn't strenuous. You are unhealthy. You live an unhealthy lifestyle that consists of work and home. The most you do is sit in front of the computer and type for hours. When was the last time you even went for a walk?

I really wanted to say, "I checked the mail today" but my better judgement got the best of me

There are two dogs that you can walk right now but you can't cause your hips hurt. Or you have a headache. If continue at this rate of eating mcdonald's every other day and not exercising, you will run into problems before you are 30. You think you're so small and cute now, this is your metabolism from highschool. What are you doing to maintain it? Join a gym. Pick up your tennis racket. Do something with your life."



*hurt face*

Damn, Daddy.

Did he really have to say, "Do something with your life"?

*serious pout with the lip poked out*


The teacher I did my internship with went from a 22 to a 18 in 4 weeks and she's getting smaller by the week. How? Boot Camp. $50 for 8 weeks? Tuesday and Thursday? I can do that.


*pronounced blink*


At least its an excuse to get some work-out clothes. Kitty and I did it big when we were in our yoga phase for all of a week. I can use some gear to match the gray sneakers I own...


SEE!?!? I'm alrady thinking about the wrong thing!! I need to be thinking about my health!! Its going down the toilet and all I can think about is finding some yellow clothes cause I like the way yellow and gray go... FOCUS!!

I actually can't wait. I remember doing tennis at FAM and I was so healthy it was disgusting. All I drank was water and ate well. Having a coach and nutritionist makes a difference... The conditioning before tennis practice alone made my life better. Everything was better. Skin, hair, nails, grades, social life, EVERYTHING! Okay, we're going to get back into the fit and fab life! Go Me!

a much better tally

Yay! it wasn't even homecoming and I had a MUCH better time!!! Woo, hoo!


Friday
I plan on leaving immediately after school. The turnpike is all of 1.5 miles away from work and it will be nothing to just hop on and GO.

Aww damn, forgot my camera at home. There canNOT be a StaceJam event withOUT a camera!! I drive way east to go get the thing and who do I meet at the door?


Mom Dukes a.k.a GG (Ghanian Goblin)

she wants me to fill out an application. a looooooooooooooooooooong application. an app that come to find out, requires an actual interviewer who I think may need to be a notary or something official... yeah...

So now my plan to leave at 230pm 3pm 330pm 4pm has been pushed back tremendously. and I didn't want to leave during rush hour on a friday so I waited and waited till I just said, "freak it." I should've remembered that I do NOT like to drive at night and should've trucked thru the traffic. I ended up leaving at 530pm. boooooooooooooo...



Dear Daylight Savings,

I hate you.


Sincerely,

Adei



i FINALLY get to Jam's crib and was accosted by a frog that was probably half the size of my thumb but real talk, looked really really mean. I moved out of HIS way cause I PROMISE you, he ice grilled me. Now that i think about it, it was probably a girl. Hater ass hoe.


Jam and I hang for like 20 minutes and decide to go eat. Our usual spot had a 2 hour wait so we walked to another sushi restaurant that was cool. Aside from the waitress who kept on spilling things, the tepid miso soup, the nasty absinthe, and the extremely loud neighboring conversations, it was a decent. It'll do. When we finished, Jam got the page on her phone that our table at 'Fly was ready!! LOL

I really have no idea what we did after that. I think I went to sleep. I'd been up since 530am and it was around midnight.


Saturday
Jam gets an oil change as we peruse Garden and Gun magazine, a magazine of the south and then even more important, the latest In+Style. I just want to know how does Bey manage to get on the cover of EVERYTHING?! When her album is about to come out, that hoe is EVERYWHERE! AT THE SAME TIME! SNL, TRL, EMA, VMA, ETC!!!! That's that Obama hustle! Actually, he got it from HER. It is definately B Season!

we ride to Tally and get to Kitty's house!!! YAY!!! Its Labor Day 2007 Part 2!!


or not. we are so not in South Florida cause it is colder than a b!tc#! (and a b!tc# be cold)

The game starts at 3 so Jam and I decied to go to the mall to meet up with her cousin and buy a sweater. yeah, on the way there, we find out the game was changed to 1pm. It was 120. Jam turns the car around and we finally make it to the game where FAM beat up on HU. I didn't recognize that HU on the field. NO receptions or completions, no O-Line, nothing *smh*. We leave before the game is over and mosey on over to the HU side.

tumbleweeds.

Jam attempts to speak to some HU folk and they look at her sideways. Eww! Keep that! I know you see the sweatshirt AND the tee! Why else would she be wearing that!? Yeah, they might have been mad that their team was losing... we'll go with that.

As we make our way back to Kitty's we peep an older man in a black brocade(?) suit with red shirt and pocketsquare. He looked like flavorflave. ole dark skin, crispy yet greasy looking lil nasty. here's the kicker



he had a fingerwave with the bump.






HIS WHOLE HEAD WAS FINGERWAVED


and



THE BACK WAS DOWN AND CURLED UNDER




i'ma let y'all marinate on that one.

I'm Out!

I'm going to Tally this weekend!

I'm sure it will be better than last time; Jameil is coming!!


the Rattlers of Florida A&M vs. the Pirates of Hampton U



Do I "strike, Strike, and STRIKE again!"?

or do I

"Rock the Blue and White, Rock the Blue and White!"?

In one, I see my begining, my first time away from home, my first time with people like me, my first friends who I DIDN'T know since forever, my first time listening to Mos and Ghost

yet, the other was more my home, easier to just be, closer (in proximity) to family, more "real" (not everybody is born with a silver spoon in their mouth, or even a silver plated one for the 'fake it till you make it' folk)...




well, its State's Homecoming. Maybe I'll be a Seminole for the day.

superface

THURSDAY
I get off of work around 4pm. I'm thinking, "I've packed my bags so we can get on the road asap"

nope. Bro doesn't get to the house till 530 and after all the talking and reassuring (pops is such a worrier although he tries to be the cool one) we FINALLY leaving around 6pm.

*face*

We get to tally around midnight as expected b/c of the time we left, chat it up with Kitty and I hit the sack. Bro drives the car to his fiance's house which is out in the northern part of bumbafcuk, just past 'the hell we at?' population 215.

FRIDAY
I'm soooooooo looking forward to homecoming convocation!! we get up, bro comes over for breakfast, and we're off. I'm looking cute in a cream boat neck top with dark denim bottoms tucked into some flat brown boots. luckily, kitty lives in the neighborhood by school so walking to the gym where convocation is is no problem. we're walking on campus and thinking, "its awfully quiet for homecoming friday... maybe EVERYBODY is in the gym"

yeah, no. the gym is DECKED OUT for the president's inaguration reception following convo. we ask someone in the gym, "where is convocation at?" he tells us, "Lee Hall" (the eqiv of ogden for my REAL HU people). Ok, no worries. another walk across campus and up some stairs and down some hills... we've done this before...

about that Lee Hall?

yeah, no. Doors locked, parking lot empty, tumbleweeds rolling...

*face*

We ask ANOTHER person, "where is convocation this year?" and she tells us, "its streaming live from the Civic Center" (see: colliseum)

Kitty & I did one of those quick, "civic cen-? oh hell naw" That means cars and parking and traffic??... hell naw on that one. we walk back to her house and watch harlem nights. fall asleep on the couch and wait for another friend of ours to come in from daytona.

Trissy comes in, we wake up and go to Yardfest. The dope boy music is in full effect. Not really my scene cause its a whole bunch of baby goons and I'm actually looking for alumni I haven't seen since graduation.

I saw 1. and he's not even my favorite person.

I did see my ZPhi friends of mine but again, they weren't the ones I was coolest with. I asked about their LS friends of mine and none of them made it.

*face*

I didn't see ANY of my favorite people :-( But while on the subject of goons, I saw my sister!! YAY! She was showing too much skin under the pretense of it being "hot" and it took me back to those HU days when we'd have a 73 degree reprieve and I'd bust out the shorts and if it was HOT! Oh, south florida girls slay me. we took a pic

and I kept it moving.
Tris and Kitty had to do some stuff in the bandroom and we went over there, caught up with some drum major homies and then walked back to the practice field where the hundred was playing.

hung out there for a while and went back to kitty's. her family was coming in from west palm and we wanted to be home.

they get here, we catch up, we eat hamburgers cause her pops brought his giant grill and before you know it, its time for night practice. that's when EVERYBODY comes to the field and watches what's going to happen the next day.
Old heads take an instrument from a freshman and show them how to play stand music, sectionals take place, pics are snapped...

its over and we're back at kitty's; calling people up to see what they are getting into. afterall, its halloween and we know there must be SOMETHING going on!

or not.

i'm in bed by 11. on halloween, homecoming friday.

*face*

SATURDAY
Its game day! But before that, one of my fave fierce guy friends (read how you want to) is having a brunch and the mimosas are flowing. If you remember, Bro drove the car to the other side of east madagascar (affectionately known as 'the country'). I have NO way of getting there. I text my sadness and we plan on getting together after the game. After that, Kitty, fam and I start to get ready for the game. I'm crunk cause i'm wearing a long sleeve black tee with my fave jeans, patent leather mary jane flats and a green scarf in my hair. my spring jacket is the prettiest shade of peach so i feel school spirited without compromising style. i mean, a hanes tee shirt is only so fly (sarcasm). i cop these gangsta mirror aviators from a vendor and i'm done!

we're about to walk in when they tell us that students need to go to a gate opposite of where we are... *eye roll* fine. it just so happens that as we're walking, i see my fave professor!!! OMG!!! I start screeeeeeeeeeeeaming cause I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE her!!!!! hugs and kisses and pictures and talking about campaigning and on and on... then I realize kitty is standing there and we have to get going!! the best seats (by the band) will be taken by the time I finish chatting it up! we go, I use mini me's ID and its all good.

We find some good seats close to the section the band is sitting in. Then I see the cheerleaders and go down to get pics of MM. Snap, snap. and I come back to my seat. The crowd goes, "ooooh! someone fell!" Kitty says, "i think SK3 fell" and my heart drops.

"no, that wasn't.... where is she?"

I see the coach and asst, and captains surrounding someone on the ground and I'm looking for my big head sister and her barbie weave... I don't see her! "Ok, where is she? Lord, please don't let that be her!" Kitty says, "Stace, whoever she is isn't getting up and I don't see Steph" I run back down the stands and look. Its my little sister. I toss my camera and shades into someone's hands and hop the bar. I'm kneeling by my crying sister who is complaining about her neck and I ask, "what happened?" the coach says, "she was in a stunt and she fell. she landed on her neck and shoulder"

OMG, please no! I'm shaking and asking MM if she can move anything but the paramedics are strapping her neck and body to a board. she's taken off the field before the pregame show even begins.


we're at the actual ambulance now when Bro joins us on the verge of tears. he wants to know what happened and who her base was; who dropped his baby sister. i know from phone calls every week that her base was the mediocre group.

MM doesn't want to go to the hospital but her neck and back are hurting and we want her to get an x-ray. They take her and she needs a CT scan as well. As you can imagine, the ER on homecoming weekend was NOT the place to be. hella drunks. people all in the hallway on the verge of alc. poisoning.

it takes FOR.EV.ER.

We spent the whole day there.

She has a neck sprain and gets prescribed some rx strength ibuprofen.

The only games we watched was what was on TV.

PWI schools at that.

*face*

Now of course, the game is over so EVERYBODY is on the road. traffic is a BITCH cause like I mentioned earlier, Kitty lives walking distance to campus.

*face*

I was tired from being at the ER all day. I call people to find out what's going on and whatnot, people are paying upwards of $75 to get into the club. yeah no. any other weekend that place is $free.99 so you know I wasn't trying to see that.

I kinda wish I did. It would've been better than what I did...

NOTHING.

Saturday night, I did nothing. Wait, I'm lying.











I ate. I wrapped my hair. I went to bed. 1037pm.

SUNDAY
We go to the vendors and I cop some BOMB obama shirts!! then it's time for church, I go and come back, pack, grab Bro from a homie and we're out.

That was my weekend.



to add insult, FAMU lost.

the Hill

it's that time of year...





the time when you get your fits and kicks ready



eyebrows, "feets", and hair done



chatting it up with people you haven't spoken to since graduation






IT'S HOMMMMMMMMECOMINNNNNNNNN'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and I am going :-)



My bro and I are leaving for that beloved school on the highest of seven hills tomorrow afternoon and I couldn't be more excited! I've packed my beloved jackets and boots, stilletos and flats, two outfits/pairs of shoes for every day there... oh my gosh! I can't wait to go back to my FAVORITE church in the whole wide world!! I can't wait!


I just hope no foolishness goes down. It is an HBCU and there's bound to be some niggadness in ABUNDANCE... *eye roll* My people, my people.


I'm looking for a house party to attend... not trying to do the hot ass club scene, more like the alumni gathering where you don't even have to write, "for the grown and sexy" cause that is sooooooooo 2005

or '04?



WAIT! '03!! Excuse Miss!



I can't wait to go to the football game!!! and hear all those songs I've haven't heard since Fall 2006!!! Shout at the drum majors "SAY LA LA!!" "BOB MARLEY!!!" "S.O.S!!"

*content sigh*


Holla at you later!!!